KEF LS50 Meta Standmount Speaker Review & Comments

[Ed Selley]

KEF has updated their ‘affordable high end’ standmount with some new thinking that keeps the striking aesthetic. Is this the best way to blow a grand?
Read the review.

Write your own review for Kef LS50 Meta

 

[matthewpiano78]

An interesting read, thank you!

I've got a pair arriving today in the royal blue finish, so after a few days of running in and then listening attentively I will report back.

 

[Canti1982]

I could see many people wanting to pair these with the Powernode 2i but I do wonder if it's really going to be able to get the best from these.

I do think it the right minimal setting these speakers look fantastic, I'm not 100% sold on the coloured drivers but that's very much a matter of taste.

If they are indeed picky about what amp you use with them then it might be sensible for people to take a look at the active versions as Kef would have matched them up with some suitable amplification and taken some of the unknown factors out of the equation.

 

[boabis]

Would these have made Editor’s Choice if dates had lined up?

I do covet a pair of these (or the Wireless models), as the looks and the UniQ driver are total nerd catnip for me.

 

[Toon Army]

Good review and sounds as though the best way to assess these speakers is to test them with our own amplifiers. Almost worth testing in a dealer alongside the old LS50s to see if they are noticeable improvements.

 

[Jules]

I've had the original LS50's in my small home recording studio for 7 years.
They are almost perfect.

These new ones are better?
Blimey!

 

[Ed Selley]

Would these have made Editor’s Choice if dates had lined up?

That question was neatly sidestepped by them slipping a month in delivery (this is actually a November review written and shot last week). They're easily going to be in contention for 2021.

 

[gibbsy]

Was it the ability of the Brio to drive the speaker or do you think it is a Rega partner disparity. There's no doubting an Elicit-R would have the power.

 

[Onlythesound]

@Jules you’re right and it begs the question ‘how do you improve the (almost) perfect’? Out of interest what amp(s) drive your 7 year veterans?

 

[Paul7777x]

I’m a little puzzled as to why Kef introduced the new backplate in a quite modest(ish) speaker?

Not really modest, naturally, but I would have thought that it would have been introduced in say the Reference models first, with something of a fuss made about it.

Are the tweeters in the Ref’ series immune to the problems the backplate improves I wonder?

 

[Paul7777x]

Would these have made Editor’s Choice if dates had lined up?

I do covet a pair of these (or the Wireless models), as the looks and the UniQ driver are total nerd catnip for me.

They are simple looking and they do appeal, but I do hope there’s an SE edition in all ‘stealth’ black again.

 

[Superaintit]

I am one of those people that didn't like the kef ls-50 wireless very much.

I am used to an effortless speaker with well integrated bass. The LS 50 was a small speaker and came nowhere near the fullness of sound I hear daily. Neither was it effortless. To me they sounded hifi, boxy.

I was and am more charmed by pmc speakers or Beolab 9.

 

[boabis]

I am one of those people that didn't like the kef ls-50 wireless very much.

I am used to an effortless speaker with well integrated bass. The LS 50 was a small speaker and came nowhere near the fullness of sound I hear daily. Neither was it effortless. To me they sounded hifi, boxy.

I was and am more charmed by pmc speakers or Beolab 9.

These speakers didn’t match up to a £5k pair of B&Os, how intriguing, tell me more.

 

[Superaintit]

Apparently I answered 1 question in the review and affirmed your conviction at once.

Considering the Beolab 9 can be had for 2000 to 2500 and a Beosound core is about 500 second hand it is a genuine alternative when you're considering buying a streamer and amp costing a grand each plus a subwoofer.

 

[boabis]

Apparently I answered 1 question in the review and affirmed your conviction at once.

Considering the Beolab 9 can be had for 2000 to 2500 and a Beosound core is about 500 second hand it is a genuine alternative when you're considering buying a streamer and amp costing a grand each plus a subwoofer.

Why not a pair of Quad ESLs, they’re about a grand used?

 

[Jokerr]

From these Speakerings what is the performance for playing the song “Yah Yah Dingdong”?

 

[Ron Hilditch]

Demo'd the original LS50s at a dealers. They were hooked up to lower priced Audiolab kit and they left me totally underwhelmed. The dealer did say they needed to be used with a better quality amplifier. Unfortunately I had to get back to work. Never got to hear them again.

 

[Nocturnal]

Around 6 years ago I demoed the original LS50s against Wharfdale Denton 80th Anniversary speakers with Arcam, Rega and Naim components.

They sounded too bright for my liking and I bought the more musical speakers.

 

[matthewpiano78]

So far so very good with my LS50 Metas.

They sound very nice with my NAD C368, but the Musical Fidelity M2si gets considerably more out of them. There isn't a hint of brightness and I find them to be very well balanced as well as musically immersive. My feeling so far is that I would have to spend considerably more to improve on either amplifier or speakers.

I'll report back again when I've put a few more hours on them.

 

[Onlythesound]

@Arctic Jack , thought you’d be interested in the post above as it implies positive things about the M2si. Of course, different speakers tho’.

 

[THX1138UK]

Was it the ability of the Brio to drive the speaker or do you think it is a Rega partner disparity. There's no doubting an Elicit-R would have the power.

I'm driving a pair of non-meta LS50s using a Rega Brio and they sound amazing. They are located in quite a small room (snug/den), but I never have to turn the volume control up excessively.

I think Rega and KEF are a fantastic match. I drive my living room R300 speakers with a Rega Elicit-R.

Regards,
James.

 

[Fergal82]

Anyone gone from the old LS50 to the metas? Thoughts?

 

[gibbsy]

I think Rega and KEF are a fantastic match. I drive my living room R300 speakers with a Rega Elicit-R.

Snap.

 

[johnburn]

Great overview just posted by John Darko...

 

[Southern soul]

He mentions no price hike yet in the UK they are £200 more? also not factoring in cables and connectors will definitely bump the prices up, he used Rocket 88 speaker cables which for a 3 meter pair is £950+, I am also guessing the interconnects/power cables and digital cables were not bog standard. i wonder if the same amount was spent on upgrading the Wireless 2's connections the difference would be so close? just an observation....